• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2015

Background: Although water chambers are often used as surrogate blood-warming devices to facilitate rapid warming of red blood cells (RBCs), these cells may be damaged if overheated. Moreover, filtered and irradiated RBCs may be damaged during the warming process, resulting in excessive hemolysis and extracellular potassium release. Methods: Using hand-held syringes, each unit of irradiated and leukocyte-filtered RBCs was rapidly passed through a water chamber set to different temperatures (baseline before blood warming, $50^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, and $70^{\circ}C$). The resulting plasma potassium and free hemoglobin levels were then measured. Results: Warming RBCs to $60^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$ induced significant increases in free hemoglobin (median [interquartile ranges] = 60.5 mg/dl [34.9-101.4] and 570.2 mg/dl [115.6-2289.7], respectively). Potassium levels after warming to $70^{\circ}C$ ($31.4{\pm}7.6mEq/L$) were significantly higher compared with baseline ($29.7{\pm}7.1mEq/L$; P = 0.029). Potassium levels were significantly correlated with storage duration after warming to $50^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$ (r = 0.450 and P = 0.001; r = 0.351 and P = 0.015, respectively). Conclusions: Rapid warming of irradiated leukoreduced RBCs to $50^{\circ}C$ may not further increase the extracellular release of hemoglobin or potassium. However, irradiated leukoreduced RBCs that have been in storage for long periods of time and contain higher levels of potassium should be infused with caution.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the feasibility of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on baseline 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) as a predictive factor for prognosis in early stage primary lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven T1-3N0M0 primary lung cancer patients treated with curative SBRT between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Four patients (14.8%) treated with SBRT to address residual tumor after wedge resection and one patient (3.7%) with local recurrence after resection were included. The SUVmax at baseline PET/CT was assessed to determine its relationship with prognosis after SBRT. Patients were divided into two groups based on maximum SUVmax on pre-treatment FDG PET/CT, estimated by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The median follow-up period was 17.7 months (range, 2.3 to 60.0 months). The actuarial 2-year local control, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were 80.4%, 66.0%, and 78.2%, respectively. With regard to failure patterns, 5 patients exhibited local failure (in-field failure, 18.5%), 1 (3.7%) experienced regional nodal relapse, and other 2 (7.4%) developed distant failure. SUVmax was significantly correlated with progression (p = 0.08, optimal cut-off point SUVmax > 5.1). PFS was significantly influenced by pretreatment SUVmax (SUVmax > 5.1 vs. SUVmax ≤ 5.1; p = 0.012) and T stage (T1 vs. T2-3; p = 0.012). Conclusion: SUVmax at pre-treatment FDG PET/CT demonstrated a predictive value for PFS after SBRT for lung cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.214-221
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• 2019

BACKGROUNDS/OBJECTIVES: Cancer treatment may lead to significant body composition changes and affect growth and disease outcomes in pediatric cancer patients. This prospective study aimed to evaluate short- and long-term body compositions changes focused on body fat during the first year of cancer treatment in children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 30 pediatric cancer patients (19 hematologic malignancies and 11 solid tumors) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis using whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 month(s) of cancer treatment. Kruskal-Wallis tests, Wilcoxon paired t tests, and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, no differences in weight, height, body mass index, abdominal circumferences, body fat, and fat-free mass were observed between 30 controls and 30 pediatric cancer patients. Total fat mass (P < 0.001) and body fat percentage (P = 0.002) increased significantly during the first month, but no changes were observed from 1 to 12 months; however, no changes in the total mass were observed during the first year of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the total fat-free mass decreased during the first month (P = 0.008) and recovered between 6 and 12 months of follow-up (P < 0.001). According to GEE analysis, there was a significant upward trend in body fat percentage during the first year, especially the first month, of cancer treatment in children with hematologic malignancies, but not in those with solid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that cancer treatment is related to significant body composition changes and rapid body fat gain, particularly during the first month after initiating cancer treatment, in children with hematologic malignancies. Therefore, individualized dietary strategies to prevent excessive fat gain are needed in pediatric cancer patients for better outcomes.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1976-1995
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• 2023

The anchor-free object detector CenterNet regards the object as a center point and predicts it based on the Gaussian circle region. For each object's center point, CenterNet directly regresses the width and height of the objects and finally gets the boundary range of the objects. However, the critical range of the object's center point can not be accurately limited by using the Gaussian circle region to constrain the prediction region, resulting in many low-quality centers' predicted values. In addition, because of the large difference between the width and height of different objects, directly regressing the width and height will make the model difficult to converge and lose the intrinsic relationship between them, thereby reducing the stability and consistency of accuracy. For these problems, we proposed a center point prediction method based on the Gaussian elliptic region and a size component regression method based on the small solution space. First, we constructed a Gaussian ellipse region that can accurately predict the object's center point. Second, we recode the width and height of the objects, which significantly reduces the regression solution space and improves the convergence speed of the model. Finally, we jointly decode the predicted components, enhancing the internal relationship between the size components and improving the accuracy consistency. Experiments show that when using CenterNet as the improved baseline and Hourglass-104 as the backbone, on the MS COCO dataset, our improved model achieved 44.7%, which is 2.6% higher than the baseline.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2014

The composite anterolateral thigh flap with vascularized fascia lata has emerged as a workhorse at our institution for complex Achilles defects requiring both tendon and soft tissue reconstruction. Safe elevation of this flap, however, is occasionally challenged by absent or inadequate perforators supplying the anterolateral thigh. When discovered intraoperatively, alternative options derived from the same vascular network can be pursued. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who underwent composite Achilles defect reconstruction using a segmental rectus femoris myofascial free flap. Following graduated rehabilitation, postoperatively, the patient resumed full activity and was able to ambulate on his tip-toes. At 1-year follow-up, active total range of motion of the reconstructed ankle exceeded 85% of the unaffected side, and donor site morbidity was negligible. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and Short Form-36 scores improved by 78.8% and 28.8%, respectively, compared to preoperative baseline assessments. Based on our findings, we advocate for use of the combined rectus femoris myofascial free flap as a rescue option for reconstructing composite Achilles tendon/posterior leg defects in the setting of inadequate anterolateral thigh perforators. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe use of this flap for such an indication.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.613-617
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• 2011

Korea Aerospace Research Institute has been designed and manufactured various thurst nozzles of the scramjet engine for optimized configuration. The test campaign for thurst nozzle characteristics was performed at T4 free-piston shock tunnel in University of Queensland, Australia. Total 8 kinds of thrust nozzles and 2 kinds of side walls were manufactured for this campaign. In this paper, the design and specification of thrust nozzles was reported. Based on the static pressure distribution of the engine and pitot pressure distributions at nozzle exit, The positive net thurst was observed with baseline case of the test campaign.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2017

Purpose: The diagnosis of cow's milk (CM) allergy is a challenge. The Cow's Milk-related-Symptom-Score ($CoMiSS^{TM}$) was developed to offer primary health care providers a reliable diagnostic tool for CM related symptoms. The predictive prospective value of the $CoMiSS^{TM}$ was evaluated in three clinical trials. Methods: Pooled analyses of the three studies were conducted based on regressing the results of the month-1 challenge test on the month-1 $CoMiSS^{TM}$, adjusting for baseline $CoMiSS^{TM}$ using a logistic regression model. In addition a logistic regression model was also fitted to the month-1 challenge test result with the change in $CoMiSS^{TM}$ from baseline as a predictor. Results: Results suggest that infants having a low $CoMiSS^{TM}$ (median, 5) after 1 month dietary treatment free from intact CM protein have a significant risk of having a positive challenge test (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.93; p=0.002). Pooled data suggest that the change in $CoMiSS^{TM}$ from baseline to month-1 can predict CM related symptoms as a confirmed diagnosis according to the challenge test at month-1. However, in order to validate such a tool, infants without CM related symptoms would also need to be enrolled in a validation trial. A concern is that it may not be ethical to expose healthy infants to a therapeutic formula and a challenge test. Conclusion: Pooled data analysis emphasizes that the $CoMiSS^{TM}$ has the potential to be of interest in infants suspected to have CM-related-symptoms. A prospective validation trial is needed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.27.1-27.11
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• 2020

Although various studies on predictive markers in the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are in progress, only PD-L1 expression levels in tumor tissues are currently used. In the present study, we investigated whether baseline serum levels of IL-6 can predict the treatment response of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. In our cohort of 125 NSCLC patients, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were significantly higher in those with low IL-6 (<13.1 pg/ml) than those with high IL-6 (ORR 33.9% vs. 11.1%, p=0.003; DCR 80.6% vs. 34.9%, p<0.001). The median progression-free survival was 6.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-8.7) in the low IL-6 group, significantly longer than in the high IL-6 group (1.9 months, 95% CI, 1.6-2.2, p<0.001). The median overall survival in the low IL-6 group was significantly longer than in the high IL-6 group (not reached vs. 7.4 months, 95% CI, 4.8-10.0). Thus, baseline serum IL-6 levels could be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy and survival benefit of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in NSCLC.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.6 s.52
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• pp.79-91
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• 2006

A new methodology of guided wave based nondestructive testing (NDT) is developed to detect crack damage in civil infrastructures such as steel bridges without using prior baseline data. In conventional guided wave based techniques, damage is often identified by comparing the "current" data obtained from a potentially damaged condition of a structure with the "past" baseline data collected at the pristine condition of the structure. However, it has been reported that this type of pattern comparison with the baseline data can lead to increased false alarms due to its susceptibility to varying operational and environmental conditions of the structure. To develop a more robust damage diagnosis technique, a new concept of NDT is conceived so that cracks can be detected without direct comparison with previously obtained baseline data. The proposed NDT technique utilizes the polarization characteristics of the piezoelectric wafers attached on the both sides of the thin metal structure. Crack formation creates Lamb wave mode conversion due to a sudden change in the thickness of the structure. Then, the proposed technique instantly detects the appearance of the crack by extracting this mode conversion from the measured Lamb waves even at the presence of changing operational and environmental conditions. Numerical and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed technique to crack detection.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Thirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024). CONCLUSTIONS: In the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.